Swimbaits and lipless cranks

[Vabass22]

Im trying to become a more rounded angler, before I start fishing tourneys. I need help with two lures:
1 SWIMBAITS
What kind of swimbaits do yall use? The only soft swimabits that I can fisnd that arent too much deneiro, are Storm. What are some ways to fish them beside twitching, and steady retrieves?

2 LIPLESS CRANKS
I will be buying some Rat-L-Traps, and Rattln Vibes soon, and would like to know the basic colors to get. Besides ripping them over the top of weeds, what are some other productive presentations for the type lures?

I am guessing a Cabelas Pro Guide 7' MH rod with a fairly soft tip, and a Quantum Accurist 'Caster with 14lb mono would be suitable for these baits? Would Flouro work better?

Thanks

[Jolly]

Swimbaits:
I use the storms also; however, I usually take the big weight out. That way the suspend rather than sink. I usually use them on flats around shallow (< 8') trees, weeds and/or other structure. Normally in the spring, pre-spawn to get those agressive fish to come outa the cover. Usually I try many different presentations when fishing them: fast twitch, slow twitch, jiging them, swimming them, etc. Also, I use them on bedding fish. I get the orange (don't know the actual color name but...) carp looking ones and piss of the mamas on beds enough to catch them on a jig or brushog. I have also used the berkley brand swim baits (junebug or black color, around 7-8") carolina rigged in deep water (> 25'). I catch at least 4 fish over 10 lbs on them every year night fishing on deep channel bends and drop offs in the summer. Do the same thing with big senkos and flukes.

Lipless Cranks:
I love fishing Rat-L-Traps... I just don't get to fish them very often because of the amount of trees in the lake I fish. I have been catching fish for the last few weeks (water temp 60-66 deg) on them actually way up creeks in the muddy water (I fish a really clear lake so the mud is abnormal). We drive up the creeks until we see shad poppin'. Then we throw red shad, bass pattern, crome/black (shad color), and a crome/ blue colroed Rat-L-Trap in between the cover where the fish are chasing shad and other bait fish. Usually use 1/2 oz or smaller. We also use them in the spring on flats in between cover and, if your willing to lose a few baits, running them reel fast into trees and letting them bounce off - reaction strike. Norally fishing flats in the spring - pre-spawn. Also fish huge (renegade brand, crome/black color, > 1/2 oz.) in deep water at night during the summer. Normally on channel bends, drop offs and bluffs. We also fish them year around on wind blown shorelines where bait would be blown up onto the shallow water. Normally use a sunfish resembling rat-L-trap or shad pattern. Try many different presentations: ie, fast, slow, medium, at several different depths. I usually fish them in open water on flats so I fan cast from the boat. I cast and once it hits the water I count to what ever depth I want it to sink to in second (ie, 5' = 5 seconds). I make one revolution through the fan cast at 3', 5', 6', etc... at different speeds, then move on. This allows you to fish the entire water column and you would be surprised by how much water you can actually cover.

Sorry for the length but like I said, I really like fishing them, but just don't get the chance to real often. When I do, I always catch fish on them, I just normally end up losing $20 worth! One more thing, I would fish them on a slower reel so you don't fish them to fast. Normally a 5.4 or 6.3 ratio.

Ok, hope this helps,

Jolly

[pig n jig]

You have got my attention now.Those are 2 baits I have used alot the swimbait alot last summer.My favorite swimbait is the Megabait brand chubby series lure.I also use optimum and Martin Panther Vivifs, but the Megabait chubby is my go to bait.I fish it on bottom for the most part, lift it and let it swim a very short distance let it land on bottom again, keeping it really close, or on the bottom.I haven't caught any real monster fish 5.4lb smallmouth being the biggest so far, but it catches alot of bass for me when I get a pattern going for the day.

[pig n jig]

Now for part II. Lmao..... When the water temp first reaches 55-60 degrees in the spring, you have better get a rattle trap tied on, or your going to miss out on what I think is the best rattle trap time.I always have a variety of traps, every time I go out fishing I have one tied on.I very seldom burn a trap , except for smallmouth fishing,any other time I want the bait to be ticking tops of weeds , or hitting objects as I fish it.Carpy posted an excellent thread a while back on rattle traps.I never want the bait retreived in a straight line, or the same speed.If you allow the bait to tick the weed tops or bounce it off structure, or btoom the speed will always be changing, that when I get the most bites on a trap.Back to the variety on hand.Each brand has a different sound,or no sound at all. There are certain days when 1 brand will work better than the rest.I think the Spro Arukan shad 75 and the Lucky craft Bevy shad SP traps are a must have rattle trap.The spro trap is exactly what Jolly is looking for, it hunts nose down so it fishes through the nastiest cover without getting snagged up alot.The Bevy shad SP suspends around cover, I love this bait for when you know they are there, but you cant get them to bite.I downsize to the smaller 50 sp size trap.Its a bit smaller than a 1/4 oz. trap, but it will suspend and twitch,. I just wish the hooks were a little bigger, but they can't be, so I fish it and get the bite first and then worry about boating the fish.Deacon has got me turn on to the Lucky craft LV series traps from the pictures he posted, but I haven't fished them yet.Part of my winter project is to buy a variety of colors to try.I hope this helps, I will post a Spro arukan shad and the little Lucky craft Bevy 50SP. P N J

[Vabass22]

Alright thanks guys. Went to Gander today, but only bought sale items this time; A pack of 4 4" Powerbait Swimmin' Pogys, a 3/4 oz Rattlin' Rapala in Baby Bass, and a pack of craws for 5$. I will be loading up over the winter on this stuff. PNJ, I troll the 1 oz shad colored Megabait Swimbaits just like that for striper. I'll have to get some smaller ones for bass.

[pig n jig]

I beleive this is a 1 oz. jig head.the bodies you change out are 5" long.I resized the picture to download easier to the site.I do have the smaller 3.5"version, but I like the bigger bait better.They slam it hard most of the time, you don't have to wonder if a fish is there, or not.P N J

[JB]

pnj,
trout minnows are probably hot in your area huh? how come shad don't exist? too cold?....do any of your lakes close to ya have shad?

[pig n jig]

JB, There are Gizzard shad in the Barge Canal area.Thats funny, I fish the Barge Canals alot and never seen any. Alewifes(known as sawbellies in bait shops) are every where here.When the turnover hits, there are millions of dead alewife every where.I didn't know there were Gizzard shad here.The hatcheries release thousands of trout fingerlings in the lakes every year. P N J http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/d...t.html#Alewife

[JB]

oh well, theres plenty of forage for the bass, just comparing notes...they can always eat perch, bluegill or other small fingerlings huh

[Vabass22]

I buy those swimbaits at gander, in the sale bin. 4 boddys for a buck, and two heads for a buck. I cant imagine throwing that huge swimabait for largemouth, but I will try it. I'll also get some smaller ones in different colors.

[pig n jig]

A $1.00 a pack ? I bought mine at Gander Mountain, but they weren't that cheap.I would buy the whole dam bin if I found them that cheap.LOL... For those of you who get frustrated with swim baits snagging up , I fish a Panther Martin Vivif that has a wire weedguard on it.I like the megabait chubbys better though. P N J http://www.panthermartin.com/lures/S...vif4Packs.aspx

[bubba bass bigfoot]

im a fan of the lipless, but not the swim. cought some bass on the lipless but never on a swim.

[jrward]

In central Arkansas , when the water is warm and clear, swimbaits work great as long as it's smoke with metal fleke. Swim them slow with as little weight as possible, around any standing cover.

[bubba bass bigfoot]

i have tried alot of things with them just cant get fish to hit them lol, i probley should get a different color, or brand. lol that might help

[mount_111]

where do u find those mega bait chubby series. i can not find them at all on the net thanks mount

[skeeter944]

welcome to the forum mount!

[pig n jig]

Mount,Gander Mountain stores carry them.I have ordered some of them from the internet, let me look for a site. P N J

[Vabass22]

I bought that Spro Aruka Shad. What color is most productive? I got wild shiner. I tried to get more swimbaits, but they were out in the sale biun, and I couldnt find them in the regular store????

[Super Fluke]

I don't like storms for fresh water, I use them for rock fish.

[pig n jig]

Originally Posted by Vabass22

I bought that Spro Aruka Shad. What color is most productive? I got wild shiner. I tried to get more swimbaits, but they were out in the sale biun, and I couldnt find them in the regular store????

Wild shiner is very good.It really catches you eye doesn't it ?I can understand why the swimbaits were sold out at a dollar a peice. The Aruku shad trap will fish through stuff other traps will get snagged up on.and I like the for slow fishing , alsmost dead sticking. When the bait fish get back in the creeks to spawn, sometimes they die off and you can imitate them dying to catch fish you normally won't catch using another presentation.You can fish the trap in those areas, let it sit on bottom paused for a minute, maybe more ,then jerk your rod tip up about 3-4 " and let the trap fall back to the bottom.Its slow fishing, but produces very well at times.The Aruku shad will sit upright on the bottom more often than any other trap I have fished so far the other trap I like to use is a Lucky craft LV-0, it has a short bill on it, but is a rattle trap design.It fishes about as good as the Aruku, the price of them I simply don't have the confidence to throw them where I would a Aruku shad. You can nearly buy 2 Arukus for the price of 1 Lucky craft. P N J

[Vabass22]

I looked at the lucky crafts. But then I said no, and bought a aruka shad and a bunch of other stuff. Thanks for the tips. Has anyone tried the STrom Kickin' Minnow?